All Week 15 NFL Picks, Fan-Friendly Edition: Plus Chargers Bolt into Week 16
Week 15 already? Man, this season is moving full speed now, and the division races are really heating up. Last week combined with the Chargers win this past Thursday has tightened the AFC West race up between the Chargers and Chiefs but has yet to officially bury the Raiders.
I'm not going to go into the Chargers beat down of the division leading Chiefs, because the Bolts already came back just four days later and repeated their performance against a very lackluster San Francisco.
So, where do things stand in the AFC West? The Chiefs are up by half a game, going into Sunday's matchups. The Chargers sit a half game back and have some extra time to get healthy for their week 16 matchup in Cincinnati. The Raiders are two games back and need lots of help to make the playoffs.
Thanks to the J.E.T.S. Jets, Jets, Jets, the Chargers may also have an opportunity to make the postseason tournament as the Wild Card team. Yes, it looks as though, if the Chargers and Chiefs win out (both have easy schedules), and the Jets lose two (next two games on the road in Pittsburgh and Chicago), the Chargers should sneak in as the Wild Card winner. That could be a long shot, but the way the Jets have been playing, it's a possibility. Time will tell.
Now, to all the Charger haters out there who say, "who cares if you make the playoffs, you'll just choke again in the first round." My answer to that is again, time will tell. It is possible that the Chargers will go into the post season and lay a big egg like they have the last several years. It is also possible that the past two years has taught them how to act and what it takes to win in the post season. We shall see.
All that is great, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Chargers are not in the playoffs and may not make it. At this point, their fate is in the hands of other teams. All they can do right now is win games and pray they get help.
Now, on to the rest of Week 15! Enjoy the games!!
All pics will be of fans from the team that I pick to win.
Last week: 12 - 4
Season Total: 130 - 78
San Francisco 49ers @ San Diego Chargers
1 of 16
I already wrote a post on this game, so I will just say that the right Chargers showed up, and they need to keep playing with that intensity to have a shot at playing in the postseason.
Mike Singletary was an awesome player whose eyes showed his passion when he played. Thursday night, his eyes showed a beaten coach who has no answers. He may not finish the season, much less keep his job for next year.
My prediction: Niners 17 Chargers 34
Actual score: Niners 7 Chargers 34
Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
2 of 16
Until the Bengals can prove that they can get out of their own way, I have to pick against them. I sure hope they don't fix what is broken this week as my Bolts play them next week.
Cheer up little girl, look for your Browns to run all over the Bengals this week!
Browns 27 Bengals 17
Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys
3 of 16
The Cowboys have a few large advantages in this game.
1. They are at home, not out in the crazy weather of the Northern East Coast.
2. They changed head coaches and have competed every week since the change.
3. The Redskins kept their head coach, and he may have lost his mind.
What is Mike Shanahan doing? Is he trying to be get rid of any and all veterans who have had any success in this league before?
This week, he has decided to bench McNabb to check the status of the quarterback position for the Skins. That means he will start former Bears quarterback, Rex Grossman! Is Rex Grossman the future of the Redskins? I would hope not. Without McNabb, you have no quarterback! Keep McNabb in there and draft a young stud to take his place in a couple of years. You did just give him an extension didn't you?
Redskins 9 Cowboys 31
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Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans
4 of 16
Two underachieving teams in this one. The Titans could get their running game going here, but I doubt they have a lot of desire at this point.
The Texans could be inspired to fight for their coaches job. They also have a nice passing game.
Texans 24 Titans 14
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts
5 of 16
Where is that coin? This one seems like a flip-em game to me. The Colts are the Colts. They make the playoffs. That is what they do. Unless they lose to the Jags who may just take away that postseason birth.
Jacksonville is an interesting team. They have had their ups and downs but have managed to pile up some wins and get into a position where they can boot the traditional division champs.
Normally, I would say, Colts and Manning at home without a doubt. The problem is that the Colts can't run the ball and have had injuries at receiver. Manning has had guys running wrong routes and making bad reads. He doesn't throw 11 picks in three games all by himself.
The Colts line has been getting pushed around by physical teams as well. That could be bad news for the Colts since Jacksonville is tough on both sides of the ball.
I picked the Colts in my "Pick-em" league, but I'm changing my mind again for this post.
Jaguars 31 Colts 27
Kansas City Chiefs @ St. Louis Rams
6 of 16
Sorry Chiefs fans but I don't see Matt Cassel being effective, even if he plays this week. He has tried to practice but has been limited all week. It seems like he is a tough guy and may give it a try, but will he be able to throw at full strength a week and a half after surgery? I'm not a doctor. I don't even play one on TV, but I think that is a lot to ask.
If Cassell isn't 100 percent, I don't see the Chiefs beating a pretty good and very hungry Rams team, on the road.
I saw a report from KC earlier in the week that said the Chiefs were trying to teach Cassel how to throw while limiting the movement in his lower body. That can't be a good thing.
As a Chargers fan, this is the game that shows up on the remaining Chiefs schedule that screams loss. Well, it at least raises it's voice. The Chiefs haven't been the same team on the road this year, and they were humiliated last week. We'll see if they can bounce back emotionally and pull this one out.
Chiefs 15 Rams 24
Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins
7 of 16
I'm tempted to go with the Bills here, since Miami has only one win at home this year. BUT, I just can't get myself to go against the home team who has something to play for.
Bills 18 Dolphins 27
Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccanners
8 of 16
Detroit has improved, but they are still Detroit. This is the time of year to think about draft picks in Detroit. If they don't knock out Freeman, like they did Rodgers last week, I expect the Bucs to win with relative ease.
Lions 10 Bucs 24
Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers
9 of 16
The Cardinals are out of quarterbacks, and they play horribly on the road. The Panthers are pretty much horrible everywhere.
That being said, I picked the game right on the Panthers only win of the season, and I plan to do it again this week.
Cardinals 6 Panthers 13
New Orleans Saints @ Baltimore Ravens
10 of 16
Hard to pick against the Ravens at home, but the Saints are at full force and scoring over 30 points per game these days. I don't think the Ravens can stop them from scoring or score with them.
Saints 27 Ravens 18
Philidelphia Eagles @ New York Giants
11 of 16
Great game! I'm looking forward to this one. Should be a hard nosed, big hitting game, that goes down to the end.
Personally, I am not impressed by Manning and I am by Vick, so that makes my pick a lot easier.
Eagles 24 Giants 20
Atlanta Falcons @ Seattle Seahawks
12 of 16
The 12th man will not be in play for the Seahawks in this one. Look for the Falcons to dominate on both sides of the ball. Seattle needs a win, but they are outmatched.
Falcons 34 Seahawks 10
New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers
13 of 16
The Jets have been struggling on offense.
The running game has slowed down, and the passing game has gone on vacation. If the Jets are to win in Pittsburgh, one of two things need to happen.
Either L.T. and Greene will have to revive their ground attack against a very stingy defense, or Sanchez will have to remember how to play quarterback. I don't see either happening this week. Jets better focus on the Bears next week or their playoff hopes may take a beating.
Jets 10 Steelers 27
Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders
14 of 16
I like to pick against the Raiders, but I just can't this week. At least I get to pick against the Broncos!
Yes, it's Tim Tebow taking the field for his first start in the NFL. That is the only hope the Broncos have. If Tebow brings enough emotion to the field with him, perhaps the Broncos could pull off an upset here.
More than likely, McFadden and Bush will run over the "Orange Crush" defense and lead the Raiders to a win and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Broncos 10 Raiders 28
Green Bay Packers @ New England Patriots
15 of 16
This would have been a decent game if not for Aaron Rodgers getting knocked into Week 16 or 17 last week.
Now, I expect the Pats to have their way, at home, against the Flynn lead Packers.
Packers 6 Patriots 31
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings
16 of 16
The outdoor, frozen field will have more effect on the home team in this Monday Night matchup.
I'm not a Cutler fan, and he likes to throw picks during prime time games. But, the Vikings are down to their third-string quarterback and guys off the street. I've been waiting by the phone just in case. I think I have one good game in me.
Bears 24 Vikings 6
Enjoy the games everyone and let me know if my picks match yours!
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